Bolt on M-44

[BobTheTomato]

I had a problem with the bolt on my M-44 today at the range. I fired Hungarian light ball (copper washed) and after the second shot I had a heck of a time getting the bolt open. I had to wiggle and force it open. Would it be buildup in the back of the barrel and do I just need to scrub the heck out of the back of the barrel? Does anyone know what else could cause this?

As always thanks for your help.

 

[Hoppy590]

get a shotgun bore brush and scrub the chamber like crazy! use plent of solvent.

what ammo were you shooting? laquored steel cases are more prone to sticking than brass.

was it just one time or did it happen alot?

 

[BobTheTomato]

Happened all the time after the first shot. It was steel cased copper washed.....no laquer

 

[Hoppy590]

right. didnt read.

check the chamber for

Burs
Cosmoline
residue build up

take a 410 or 20 gauge copper brush, and a swab . use the brush and solvent. and just when you think youv brushed enough, brush some more. lots of solvent lots of swabing.

or
take it to the range and test it out. fire like 5 shots pretty quick to heat up the chamber. then scrub with solvent and a rag to get out any cosmo.

 

[Matt Dillon]

That's why I take a dead blow hammer with me to the range when I shoot the Czech silver tip ammo.

 

[EricTheBarbarian]

sometimes once the gun starts to get hot the laquered cases can start to stick. also old crusted cosmoline in a dirty chamber can cause this problem.however, a stiff bolt is half the fun with these guns

 

[EricTheBarbarian]

double tap

 

[illini52]

Same thing happened to me with my 91/30. The good guys here helped me out. The answers' above.
Also, bring a rubber mallet or 2x4 to the range next time to get the bolt unstuck.

 

[rockstar.esq]

This plus corrosive ammo is why Timbokhan's Mosin Nagant was named "Corrodicon Von Boltlockentight"! Seems like some chambers are more prone to getting stuck than others. Mine got stuck once, I cleaned it thoroughly and it's been fine ever since.

 

[armoredman]

Chuck the cleaning rod in an electric drill. Douse with degreaser, and drill the chamber with a 20ga brush. Clean normally, repeat. Should do the trick worked well in my Mosins.

 

[TimboKhan]

well, to be fair, my bolt was having a hard time closing, not opening. I don't know exactly what the problem was, but I swapped bolts with my 91/30 and my carbine works fine. Obviously, something was wrong with the bolt itself...

 

[happybrew]

I had the same problem

Timbokahn:

I had the same problem with one of my M44's. The extractor was not catching the rim of the round, and so it would rest behind the rim. Because the bolt could not engage fully, it would not close. I solved it by bending out the extractor very slightly so it would engage the rim of the round. Problem solved.

happybrew

 

[Niner]

If the bolt won't close

Lot of the spam can Nagant ammo, like you seem to have acquired, Timbokhan, have irregular rim thicknesses. Some rounds will load fine and others have a thicker rim and won't close. I have a batch of the stuff myself.

 

[Hoppy590]

its called head space. get it checked.

 

[TimboKhan]

its called head space. get it checked.

Headspace was my first guess, but it was fine. Bending the extractor out a shade actually seems to have worked! I could get it closed, mind you, but it took waaaaaay more force than was necessary. I think the extractor issue probably was it....

 

[Avenger]

That's why I take a dead blow hammer with me to the range when I shoot the Czech silver tip ammo.

Wait, you already have a Mosin, why do you need another hammer....Oh, okay, I get it now.

 

[foghornl]

Take a good look at the base of your ammo. I have run accross some (particularly the Albanian stuff***) that isn't made properly....the base (or case 'head' if you prefer) isn't beveled or rounded on the edge of the rim, but flat...more like .30-30 ammo.

I had some rounds that wouldn't let the bolt close.


*** Headstamp "arsenal code" of 3, have seen that in both '88 and '89 vintage ammo.